DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER, Assisted by RISLEY, Depart Layup

SAMUEL RISLEY began icebreaking in Erie harbor on Saturday morning at 0700, and arrived in Presque Isle Bay by 0900 to break out the DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER in front of a large crowd of on-lookers. DOROTHY ANN entered the drydock at around 0930, and emerged at around 1100 with the newly-painted barge PATHFINDER. The duo departed under escort of SAMUEL RISLEY and USCGC NEAH BAY bound for Cleveland. On Saturday the duo got as far as Conneaut before stopping for the night in the ice. Sunday icebreaking operations began at dawn and by nightfall the trio had arrived at Cleveland piers.

U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards have an agreement in place to work in each other's harbors breaking ice where necessary, for those asking why a Canadian icebreaker did this work, instead of an American. It's a common practice and this icebreaking work here cost the Canadian taxpayers money, with no cost to the U.S. taxpayer. As RISLEY was the most powerful breaker nearby, RISLEY was tasked for the work.

DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER will spend the first several weeks of her season shuttling ore up the Cuyahoga River to the ArcelorMittal steel mill.

ROGER BLOUGH should depart Thursday, with PRESQUE ISLE following on Friday.

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SAMUEL RISLEY inbound on Saturday morning.


Passing the lighthouse and entering the mostly ice-free channel.


Stern view.


Breaking ice in the harbor.


Another view.


Turning.


SAMUEL RISLEY is the most powerful Canadian icebreaker on the Great Lakes.


DOROTHY ANN backs away from the north face of Donjon.


Another view of the big articulated tug.


Approaching the drydock.


Entering the notch of the PATHFINDER.


RISLEY heads out of the harbor. RISLEY would meet up with the DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER outside of the harbor.


Another view.


DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER begin backing out of drydock.


In the channel.


Another view.


Stern view.


Outbound.


Next stop: Cleveland to load iron ore.

SAMUEL RISLEY DUE

After about ten days of delay, SAMUEL RISLEY is expected to arrive in Erie on Friday morning for icebreaking ahead of the departure of DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER, which is expected this weekend.

SAMUEL RISLEY Due

Canadian Coast Guard ship SAMUEL RISLEY is expected to arrive in Erie on Monday to break ice in Erie harbor to prepare for departure of DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER from Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair. This will be RISLEY's first visit to the port in 19 years.

Keep checking back for updates.

PATHFINDER Moved into Drydock

Tug NEW YORK began icebreaking operations at 0700 on Wednesday morning in preparation for barge PATHFINDER to be moved into drydock. After several hours of breaking work, NEW YORK entered the drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair at 1100 and emerged with a section of new barge, which it moored in the West Slip. At the same time, DOROTHY ANN backed PATHFINDER away from the West Slip into Presque Isle Bay. The duo stood by awaiting for NEW YORK to emerge from the drydock, at which time DOROTHY ANN pushed her barge into drydock.

Once the barge was inside the tug backed away from the barge and stood by in the bay until the drydock gate was closed, at which time DOROTHY ANN moored on the north side of the shipyard, where it will spend the winter before getting underway for the 2015 season in March.

PATHFINDER is the first Interlake Steamship Company vessel to be drydocked at Donjon since PAUL R. TREGURTHA was put into drydock for inspection after a 2012 grounding.

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DOROTHY ANN laying alongside the West Slip on Wednesday morning.


NEW YORK beginning icebreaking operations.


NEW YORK is covered in ice from her trip down the lake from Ashtabula.


Another view of the 1913-built tug.


Turning.


Breaking ice alongside the PATHFINDER.


With DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER.


Another view.


DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER backing away from the West Slip later in the morning.


Another view.


Turning.


Coming around to line up for the drydock.


Bow view.


NEW YORK emerges from the drydock.


Turning for the West Slip.


With PATHFINDER in the background.


In the West Slip.


Stern view.


DOROTHY ANN pushes PATHFINDER into drydock.


NEW YORK returns from the slip.


DOROTHY ANN backing out.


Turning.


This photo captures the contrast between the 1999-built, 7,200 HP Z-drive DOROTHY ANN and the 1913-built, 1,250 HP single-screw NEW YORK.


DOROTHY ANN turns circles in the bay waiting for the drydock gate to be put back into place.

DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER Arrive for Layup

After a long battle with Lake Erie ice since leaving Detroit on Saturday, tug DOROTHY ANN and her barge, PATHFINDER, arrived in Erie at 0800 this morning with icebreaking assistance from Great Lakes Towing's NEW YORK. The duo docked at the West Slip at around 0900. The articlated tug-barge will be drydocked on Wednesday morning for the barge's five-year survey at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair.

This is the first time tug DOROTHY ANN has spent a winter in Erie. As the steamship J.L. MAUTHE, barge PATHFINDER spent the winter of 1992-93 layed up on the east side of Erie Marine Enterprises, where FARRELL 256 is currently moored. This is also the first time a vessel from Interlake Steamship Company has spent a winter layup in Erie since the winter of 1999-2000, when JAMES R. BARKER and MESABI MINER spent the winter in the port.

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DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER in the channel on a snowy Monday morning.


Passing the lighthouse.


Another view.


The channel ice had been broken earlier in the morning by tug NEW YORK.


Close up.


DOROTHY ANN is the largest Z-drive tug on the Great Lakes.


On deck, the crew prepares for docking at the West Slip.


NEW YORK breaks ice ahead of the PATHFINDER.


Stern view.


Turning for Presque Isle Bay.


NEW YORK runs into the West Slip to break ice ahead of DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER.


Another view.


NEW YORK.


Side view.


Having broken the ice, NEW YORK proceeds out of the slip.


Stern view of NEW YORK.


PATHFINDER comes ahead. The duo would pull farther up into the slip than normal due to icy bollards at the north end of the West Slip.


Another view.


Approaching the slip.


With NEW YORK alongside.